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A PROBLEM FOR MORAUSTS
Two Armenian boys in Watertawn, Mass., inheriting a centuries-old
hatred of Mohammedan Turks, in a fit of frenzy killed a Turk who had spit
at the Cross, the sacred emblem of their religion.
One of theseQads went home and confessed the crime to his father and
. mother, a worthy pair enjoying the respect of the community. The mother,
her heart flooded with mother-love, wanted to shield her son and get him
out of the law's way. But the father, over-ruling her agonized appeals, took
him to the police.
"I don't care if he is our only son," he said. "Myboy killed a man and
he will have to die for it. I had planned to educate him; to give him the
best training my means could afford; but now I would not have him in my
house."
Did that father do right? Under similar circumstances would you have
surrendered your son to justice ? In imagination put yourself in- this father's
place and consider how you would have acted,? - ' '
A poll of judges, preachers, teachers in and-arouhcL-Boston-shows very
general praise of the father's deference to the law though not of his stern
ness toward the boy. But most of. those who so eagerly, commend the
father's action frankly admit that, under like conditions, they'rV'not so sure
that they would have the hardihood to do the same thing, .
In wartime a general ordered his son shot' because the wearied youth
had fallen asleep on picket duty. But as soon as the campaign-had' ended,
he, broken-hearted, resigned. - '
Do we owe most to society at large or to our own flesh and blood?
What is your judgment upon the act of that Armenian father?
ANOTHER ARGUMENtWr SOCIAL CENTER
The speaker was John L. Sullivan, the greatest fighting man that ever
lived "Sully" at 55, with the healthy look of a 3-year-old baby, the result
of exercise, simple food, earlyto bed and nine years' freedom from booze.
"Drinking is all right in its place; understand, I'm no moralizer. But
the young fellow who passes it up he's the guy "thafr gets along.-'
, Take it from "yours truly, John L.;" he knows John Barleycorn is
the only fighter who ever came near getting the decision' over him.
Then there's Rube Waddell, with a wing once :ascunning as Sully's
fist He, r'broke" and dying at an age when most men are just beginning
to live, utters the same expert counsel: "Keep away from it; the booze'U
get you if you don't watch out." '
The other day the boss of San Francisco's "d'own-and- out" woodyard,
before whom 7,600 homeless single men had at one time or another passed
in review, told an unemployment conference the result of his studies.
"I am sure that 50 per cent and I believe that 90 per cent of these dere
licts in the first instance, owe their undoing," he said, "to" the great social
disease."
But syphilis is largely fed by the incitement of alcohol. So even here
booze earns a black mark.
"Sully," though voices another warning. Suddenly stop booze-doped
men from getting more alcohol, then forget to supply a-safer substitute;
ahd you multiply , drug fiends, he tells us-
Another argument for the social centec,